Dental plate-punch.



No. 866,559 PATENTED SEPT. 17,1907.

E. B. BARTRAM.

DENTAL PLATE PUNCH.

APPL'IOATION FILED JAN. 18, 1907.

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No. 866,559. PATBNTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

E. E. BARTRAM.

DENTAL PLATE PUNCH. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1901.

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DENTAL PLATE-PUNCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed January 18, 1907. Serial No. 352,977.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD BARTRAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Plate-Punches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the art of dentistry and particularly to punches that are designed to punch holes in metal plates to receive the pins in the back of an artificial tooth.

It is well known in this art that nearly all of the artificial teeth used in crown, bridge and metal plate work must be backed; that is, a piece of metal is fitted over the two pins'which project from the base of the tooth, and the pins are bent over and the solder in the heating operation runs over the pins and backing and secures the tooth to the bridge, crown, or plate, whatever the case may be. In the operation of preparing the plate for the reception of these pins, it has heretofore been the custom to use a punch tool with a single punch or pin that makes a single hole, and for the operator to then determine where the next or other hole shall be punched by relying on his own judgment as to distance, which practically amounts to a guess. Very often the guess is inaccurate, and this makes the backing hard to adjust, which consumes considerable time in filing and fitting the backing on the tooth and often times leaves a space for the solder to go through to the tooth, which results in cracking it.

My invention has for its object the elimination of this difficulty by the provision of a punch, in the use of which the tooth is put into the machine with the pins of the tooth fitting in holes in the adjustable die where the pins of the punch are to fit. When taking the measure or getting the distance apart of the joins,'

a screw or similar fastening means is manipulated which secures the die and the two punches at the proper distance apart and the tooth is then taken out and the piece of sheet metal put in. Subsequent pressure on the top of the punch then produces the holes in the metal and said holes exactly correspond with the pins. "he metal is then taken out and it always will fit accurately in its place on the tooth.

With this and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved dental punch, parts of the standards being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end elevation, parts being broken away; 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 4% of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the die plates.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The base 1 of my improved punching tool for dentists use particularly is provided with two spaced uprights or standards 2 that are preferably integral therewith and which are, with the base, formed of comparatively heavy metal, so as to withstand the punching operation a without danger of turning over. These standards 2 are preferably solid except at their upper ends where they are provided with chambers 3 in which expansion springs 4 are mounted.

Mounted between the two standards 2 and working vertically within grooves or slots in said standards, is a preferably solid cross head 5 which is provided at its side edges with arms 6 which work in the chambers 3 above the springs 4 and are adapted to compress said springs when the cross head goes down and be raised by said springs so as to lift said cross head when the pressure upon the cross head is relieved. The cross head 5 constitutes the punch support, as will be hereinafter more specifically set forth and it carries at its lower edge, the laterally adjustable punch holder 7 which is in the form of a bar or rod slidingly secured to the cross head and preferably by the dove-tail or tongue-and-groove connection shown. The adjustable punch holder 7 is provided at its outer end with a knob or finger piece 8.

9 and 10 designate pins or punches which are carried by the cross head 5 and the adjustable punch holder '7, respectively, thereby constituting a relatively stationary and a relatively adjustable punch that may be adjusted so as to be held at different distances from each other.

The die plate of my improved punching machine comprises a relatively stationary section 11 and a lat erally adjustable section 12, the latter being mounted to move in a horizontal plane through an opening formed to receive it in the lower end of one of the standards 2, as shown. At its outer end, the adjustable section 12 of the die plate is provided with an upwardly projecting extremity 13 which extends through an opening 14 in the relatively movable or adjustable punch holder 7.

Both the sections 11 and 12 of the die plate are formed with transverse slots 15 which are in alinement with each other and which constitute a seat for the metal plate that is to be punched and in addition to these slots the said die plate sections are provided with sockets 16 both above and below the slots 15, said sockets being designed to receive punches 9 and 10 in the punching operation.

17 designates a set screw which works throughone of the standards 2 and is designed to impinge against the section 12 of the die plate so as to hold the same at the required distance from the stationary section 11.

In the practical operation of my improved punch tool, a tooth which is to be backed has its pins inserted into the sockets 16, the movable section 12 of the die plate being pushed in or out for this operation. After the adjustment has been effected, the set screw 17 is turned up so as to tighten and maintain the adjustable die section 12 in its place, and it is obvious then that its upwardly extending end 13 will constitute aguide for the adjustable punch holder '7 in the punching operation. After the adjustment has been effected and the tooth removed, the sheet metal plate to be punched is inserted within the slots 15 or seat constituted thereby, and pressure is brought to bear upon the cross head 5 so as to cause the pins 9 and 10 to pass into the sockets 16 through the metal and punch the same at the proper places.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a simple and durable construction of punch for the purpose set forth, which will accurately or exactly punch a metal sheet at two points at the required distance apart, according to the pattern that has been at first fitted to the punch, such as the tooth with its two pins, before described. And, it is obvious, therefore, that the dentist using my improved punch does not have to depend upon his own judgment or guess as to the distance apart the punches should be placed, but has means for accurately determining the distance apart of the two holes in the metal sheet, without any chance of any variation or inaccuracy thereby avoiding .the disadvantages pointed out at the beginning of this description.

While I have described my improved punching device or tool as designed particularly for use by dentists in punching sheet metal plates to back teeth, it is evident that the invention is not limited to this use, but is equally applicable to other arts where it is desired to punch sheets or strips with two or more holes at predetermined distances apart.

If desired, the sockets 16 may communicate at their entrance ends with grooves 16 as illustrated in the drawings, said grooves serving to guide the pins of a tooth while adjusting the tooth in the sockets in taking the measure.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A punching machine, comprising a frame 01' support, a cross head movable in said support, a relatively stationary punch secured to said cross head, a relatively adjustable punch holder connected to said cross head, said adjustable punch holder also carrying a punch, a die plate composed of a stationary section and a relatively movable section, and means for simultaneously adjusting the adjustable section of the die-plate and the adjustable punch holder.

2. A punching machine, comprising a supporting frame, a cross head movable in said frame, a relatively stationary punch carried by said cross head, a laterally adjustable punch holder connected to said cross head and provided with a punch, a die plate embodyingan adjustable section with which the adjustable punch holder has a guiding connection, and means for holding said adjustable die plate section in different adjusted positions,

3. A punching machine comprising a supporting framework a cross head movable in said framework and carrying a relatively stationary punch, a laterally adjustable punch holder connected to said cross head and also carrying a punch, a die plate embodying a relatively adjustable section, and means for holding the said section in its different adjusted positions, the adjustable punch holderbeing mounted to slide upon the said adjustable die plate section.

4. A punching machine, comprising a supporting framework a cross head movable therein and provided with a relatively stationary punch, a laterally adjustable punch holder connected to said cross head and also carrying a punch, said punch holder being provided with an opening extending therethrough, a die plate embodying a laterally adjustable section provided with one end extending freely through the opening of the adjustable die holder, and means for holding the said die plate section in its different adjusted positions.

5. A punching machine, comprising a supporting framework a cross head movable therein and carrying a relatively stationary punch, a laterally adjustable punch holder connected to said cross head and also carrying a punch, a die plate embodying a laterally adjustable sec tion provided with an angular-1y disposed end, the adjustable die holder being provided with an opening through which the said end freely extends, and means for holding said die plate section in its diiferent adjusted positions.

0. A punching machine, comprising a base, spaced standards rising from said base, a cross head mounted to move between said standards, said cross head carrying a relatively stationary punch, a punch holder having a laterally slidable movement on said cross head and also carrying a punch, said punch holder being provided with an opening extending therethrough, a die plate consisting of a stationary section and a laterally adjustable section extending through one of the standards and provided with an upwardly extending outer end projecting through the opening in the adjustable punch holder, the two sections of the die plate being provided with die sockets and with horizontally alined recesses, for the purpose'specitied, and a set screw working through one of the standards and adapted to impinge against one of the die plate sections, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A punching machine, comprising a base, two spaced standards rising from said base, springs mounted in the upper ends of the said standards, a cross head mounted to move vertically between said standards and provided with arms adapted to bear against the upper ends of said springs, the tension of said springs forcing the cross head outwardly, a relatively stationary punch secured to said cross head, a laterally adjustable punch holder having a slidable connection with said cross head, a punch secured to said holder, the outer end of said holder being formed with an opening, and said holder projecting through and working in one of said standards, a die plate consisting of a stationary section and a later-ally adjustable section working through one of said standards, the two sections being provided with alined slots, and the adjustable section being provided with an upwardly extending end fitted within the opening of the adjustable punch holder and constituting a guide for the latter, and a set screw working through one of said standards and adapted to impinge against the adjustable die plate section, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A punching machine, comprising a frame or support, a cross head movable in said support and carrying a rela tively stationary punch, a laterally adjustable punch holder having a slidable connection with said cross head and also carrying a punch, and a die plate consisting or a stationary section, and a laterally adjustable section, the two sections being provided with alined slots and with sockets designed to be registered with the said two punches and alsoformed on their upper sides with grooves communicating with the upper ends of said sockets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDXVARD E. BARTRAM. [L. S.]

Witnesses Enwoon KINNER, IRWIN H. CAMPBELL. 

